Full disclosure. I do not have long and pretty nails. I used to bite my nails when I was younger. Now, I pick at them when I’m stressed or nervous. I can stop myself from time to time when I make a conscientious effort to do so and implement a strict nail care regimen. Below are a few products and treatments that help me attain relatively decent nails as well
If your skin is dry as a desert as is mine, you may want to check out a few of my after shower body care heroes. I’m on about my fifth can of Vaseline Spray Moisturizer. I’ve used all three varieties; cocoa butter, total moisture, and this aloe version. They are easy to use, super moisturizing, and very affordable. Available at drugstores. Goe Oil by Jao is pure luxury. It’s on the
Erborian BB Creme 5 in 1 Baby Skin Effect SPF 20 – This is one of my favorite BB creams of all time and I have been wearing it most days rather than a foundation. If my complexion is clear, I prefer the sheerness of a BB cream. It offers minimal coverage and makes my skin look dewy. I use the lightest shade: Clair. Available online. NYX HD Photogenic Concealer
I can never pass up a Korean beauty market when I spot one. K-Beauty is everywhere these days, from the drugstore to department stores. I have a post about my favorite K-beauty products coming soon but I wanted to list some of my favorites stores and online sources. Online sources are convenient but physical locations are so much fun to browse in person. I can easily lose myself for
Below are my current favorite eyeliner formulations and shades. All of them meet my criteria: creamy and richly pigmented, apply very smoothly, don’t tug on the eyes, and last all day. Quality eyeliners will last quite some while others dry up rapidly. If you have an eyeliner that you haven’t used in a while, do err on the side of caution and sharpen it before you apply it to your
Step 1: Cleanse Pixi Peel & Polish – I like this fresh and fruity physical exfoliator. It wakes up my skin in the morning. Pixi is also available at Target. Step 2: Serum ISDIN Flavo-C Serum – I bought a few skincare products in Madrid last year and a couple of products from the Spanish skincare range, ISDIN. These Vitamin C serum ampules come with a lid that allows you
Mascara. My favorite, cannot live without, beauty product. Here is a rundown of my most loved, and most often repurchased brands and formulas. All are available at the drugstore, Ulta or Sephora. L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise – A kind of drugstore dupe for Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. Gives you thick, fluffy lashes. Essence Lash Princess – My favorite beauty discovery in 2018 is this rock solid mascara.
My all-time favorite lip balms and treatments. I’ve been using Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream for years. Some don’t care for the smell but I love it. This can be used anywhere on the body to treat dry, cracked skin but I use it mostly as a lip treatment. Available at most department stores. It’s a real hero product. Lanolips is a recent discovery that I will repurchase. The Lemonaid
Matrixyl is a peptide combination invented and trademarked in France. Its development was a breakthrough in anti-aging technology and it’s found in hundreds of skincare products. There are three types, or generations: Matrixyl™, Matrixyl™ 3000, and Matrixyl™ synthe’6. One is not necessarily better than the other. My skin benefits greatly from any or all combinations which is why I include it regularly into my regimen. Matrixyl signals your body to
Wet n Wild Dewy Lumineux Primer – This primer is a very sheer gold color and I like the luminosity it gives my skin under foundation. I cannot find this version but a similar one is available at drugstores. BOURJOIS 123 Perfect Color Correcting Foundation – I’m a long time fan of BOURJOIS makeup, their foundations especially. Not easily found in the US but they are available online and in